Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)
Quick links!
- FSM Communication and Information Policy Advisory Committee (CIPAC)
- College of Micronesia-FSM - Computing Technology Policy
Developing a technology literate population to respond to the changing world economy
Responsibility for education in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is shared between the national government and the individual states of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap. FSM has a strategic plan to provide overall guidance for improving education in the country. However, the states have the primary responsibility for instruction with the national government providing support and assistance. As a result, the individual states also have their own plans for the improvement of education and for the use of ICTs.
The strategic plan specifically addresses the need to develop a technology literate population. The main goal in this area is “to develop a technology literate population to rapidly respond to changing conditions in the world economy” through the following five objectives:
- Provide quality mathematics and science programmes to form the basis for understanding and using current and future technologies
- Develop student computer literacy for understanding and use of information technologies
- Develop operational plans for effective use of the Internet and other information technologies for improvement of instructional support staff training and programmes
- Provide for repair and maintenance and upgrading of technological resources
- Allocate financial and technical resources for assistive technologies
Currently, approximately 85 per cent of the teaching staff have less than a bachelor’s degree and a substantial percentage have only a high school diploma. In response to the immense training needs, the governments has supported distance learning programmes such as PRELSTAR: A Pacific Islands Distance Learning Programme and the Pacific Regional Technology in Education Consortium (PR*TEC), providing pre-service training for teachers and university faculty.
Data-driven decision-making in education is also promoted. One of the goals in the strategic plan is to develop “appropriate assessment and evaluation systems for all levels of education and will use those systems as the basis for decision-making, resource allocation, and planning and development.” A database of information on education in the individual states has been created as part of this effort.
Outside funding sources are currently being sort to improve telecommunications access to schools.